We are always pleased to report success for local talent abroad. Lately, Hungarian film-makers have won major prizes at festivals from Cannes to Karlovy Vary. The most recent triumph takes us quite far from Hungary, and indeed the European continent – all the way to Japan, where the short film Symphony no, 42, by film-maker Réka Bucsi, won the Hiroshima prize at the fourteenth Hiroshima International Animation Film Festival. After the main prize, the Hiroshima prize is the festival’s most prestigious award.
In their own words, the “Hiroshima International Animation Festival was established in 1985, as a project commemorating the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing. From the beginning, Hiroshima City and ASIFA shared a same idea, that is, to promote the international mutual understanding and to pursue eternal world peace through the development of animation art, which is a medium common to all human beings beyond nations and languages.”
The festival is a biennial, and this year attracted 2,110 entries from 63 countries and regions. Moreover, 34,715 people participated over the course of the five days of the festival. It is fitting that a Hungarian film won, as Hungary was the featured guest country this year. The Hiroshima prize totaled 1 million yen, just over 10,000 dollars. This year’s theme was “Love and Peace.” The six-person jury commented that Symphony no. 42 aptly reflected the theme, and cited its unique and original “animation language” as justification for the win. Bucsi, still in her twenties, studied at Budapest’s prestigious Moholy-Nagy University of Art, and clearly has a bright future here and abroad. It’s a huge win for the young film-maker, and one more reason to celebrate local talent.
Below you can find the teaser for the longer (though still short) film.
PPM Film Services is a Budapest-based film company offering an inspiring and creative work atmosphere for its host of clients from around the world. Since our inception, our focus has been providing the best of the best in terms of local production resources, locations, cast and technical teams to ensure that whatever the production we’re charged to create, we do it with no compromise. To sign up for the PPM Hungary newsletter, have a look here.